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Officials prepare for the inaugural ceremonies at the Capitol in Lansing, Mich., Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. Democrat Gretchen Whitmer is set to become Michigan's 49th governor. The 47-year-old former state lawmaker from East Lansing will take the oath of office Tuesday in a swearing-in ceremony outside the state Capitol building. (Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)

Notable Michigan laws taking effect in 2019

Officials prepare for the inaugural ceremonies at the Capitol in Lansing, Mich., Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. Democrat Gretchen Whitmer is set to become Michigan's 49th governor. The 47-year-old former state lawmaker from East Lansing will take the oath of office Tuesday in a swearing-in ceremony outside the state Capitol building. (Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)

As Michiganders continue to welcome in 2019, they will also notice a few notable laws taking effect relating to minimum wage and paid sick leave.

On Dec. 14, then Gov. Rick Snyder signed two "substitute" bills into law that amended earlier citizen-led initiatives approved by the state legislature. Both will take effect in March.

The signing of Senate Bill 1171, now Public Act 368, will slow the gradual increase of the state's minimum wage from $9.45 in 2019 to $12.05 by 2030. The Michigan One Fair Wage proposal called for raising the wage to $12 by 2022.

Changes have also been made to the state's paid sick leave law. Senate Bill 1175, now Public Act 379, will require eligible businesses to award workers one hour of paid sick leave for every 35 hours worked, with a cap of 40 hours. The Time to Care proposal initiative's proposal called for a cap of 72 hours.

After signing the bills, Snyder said both struck a good balance between the initial proposals and the original legislation as drafted.

“They address a number of difficulties for job providers while still ensuring paid medical leave benefits and increased minimum-wage incomes for many Michiganders," said Snyder.

The rehashing of both citizen-led proposals by the GOP-led State Legislature garnered criticism from groups such as Progress Michigan and the Michigan League for Public Policy.

Gov. Whitmer said the signing of some bills during lame duck were a product of partisan gamesmanship by outgoing Republican legislators.

"It only reinforce my commitment to focusing on common-ground issues," said Whitmer on Dec. 28. "I hope the new Republican leaders in the Legislature are ready and willing to work together to get things done in a way that positively impacts the people of Michigan."

While many bills signed into law during 2018 took effect immediately, some had to wait until 2019.